George Abaka-Wood

Dr George Abaka-Wood

Research Fellow, Mineral Processing

Future Industries Institute

Future Industries Institute

Available For Media Comment.

Dr. George Blankson Abaka-Wood is a Research Fellow and Process Metallurgist at the Future Industries Institute of the University of South Australia. He holds BSc. Mineral Engineering and PhD (Minerals and Resources Engineering) degrees from the University of Mines and Technology (Ghana) and University of South Australia, respectively. Since 2015, he has demonstrated highly specialized skills and expertise in research and innovative metallurgical studies geared towards the recovery of critical minerals such as rare earth elements (REE) that occur in complex deposits. 
Dr Abaka-Wood is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). He has over 7 years professional experience as a Metallurgist/Mineral Processing Engineer and has worked with Gold Fields Ghana Limited - Tarkwa Mine (Ghana), Process Innovation (Tarkwa, Ghana) and Heathgate Resources Pty. Ltd.– Uranium Mine (Adelaide, Australia).

Recovery of Gold and Rare Earth Elements from West Kalkaroo Saprolite Gold Ore

Gold recovery from Namba Clay Ore

Beneficiation of rare earth elements minerals from South Australian mining tailings 

The use of coal fly ash as secondary resource for rare earth elements

Development of Copper-Gold-REE processing plant

Production of Ilmenite concentrates from complex low grade ores 

Leaching Rare earths from South Australian clay-rich ores 

Dry magnetic processing of iron oxides and rare earth elements minerals 

Copper ore flotation 

Year Citation
2026 Nyarko, D., Zanin, M., Tsatouhas, G., Seaman, D., Skinner, W., Abaka-Wood, G., & Asamoah, R. (2026). Flotation of a coarsely ground porphyry copper ore: Insights into collector efficiency. Powder Technology, 470, 11 pages.
DOI
2026 Acquah, G., Abaka-Wood, G., Skinner, W., Addai-Mensah, J., & Asamoah, R. (2026). Effect of mechanical activation on nickel and cobalt extraction in refractory nickel laterite ore. Powder Technology, 468(121655), 121655.
DOI
2026 Nyarko, D., Drechsler, M., Amos-Judge, T., Abaka-Wood, G., Skinner, W., Zanin, M., & Asamoah, R. (2026). Effect of comminution mechanism on flotation of coarse composites. Minerals Engineering, 235(109851), 8 pages.
DOI
2026 Appiah, A. A. A., Fathi, M., Hunt, J., Missen, O. P., Abaka Wood, G., Delcheva, I., . . . Feig, S. (2026). Recovery of magnesite from silicate gangue minerals via reverse flotation using a novel alkyl ether amine collector. Powder Technology, 469(121886), 1-16.
DOI
2026 Dadzie, R. A., Abaka-Wood, G. B., Skinner, W., Addai-Mensah, J., & Zanin, M. (2026). Extending HydroFloat™ technology to finer feeds : Copper ores. Minerals Engineering, 237, 13 pages.
DOI
2025 Judge, T. A., Abaka-Wood, G., Greet, C., Skinner, W., & Asamoah, R. (2025). Comminution environment-defined collector adsorption behaviour of copper sulphide ore. MINERALS ENGINEERING, 233(109643), 10 pages.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2025 Judge, T. A., Dadzie, R. A., Skinner, W., & Abaka-Wood, G. B. (2025). Characterisation and magnetic separation of complex low grade saprolite ore for rare earth elements minerals recovery. MINERALS ENGINEERING, 231(109437), 13 pages.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2025 Amos-Judge, T., Abaka-Wood, G., Greet, C., Zanin, M., Skinner, W., & Asamoah, R. (2025). Post Dry Grinding Storage Protocol: Impact on Downstream Flotation Processes. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 19 pages.
DOI
2025 Wang, X., Ding, R., Cui, X., Qin, Y., Cheng, G., Abaka Wood, G., & Li, E. (2025). New insights for improving low rank coal flotation performance via Tetrahydrofurfuryl Ester collectors. Minerals, 15(1), 1-13.
DOI Scopus4 WoS1
2025 Wang, X., Cui, X., Ding, R., Cheng, G., Qin, Y., Abaka Wood, G., . . . Cheng, F. (2025). Interfacial mechanism of asymmetric Gemini surfactant in synergy with kerosene for enhancing low-rank coal flotation. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 722(137267), 1-10.
DOI Scopus4 WoS5
2025 Acquah, G., Abaka-Wood, G. B., Addai-Mensah, J., & Asamoah, R. (2025). Selective comminution for upgrading nickel and cobalt in nickel laterite ores. Minerals Engineering, 233(109667), 11 pages.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2025 Dadzie, R. A., Zanin, M., Skinner, W., Addai-Mensah, J., Asamoah, R., & Abaka-Wood, G. B. (2025). Reprocessing of Sulphide Flotation Tailings for Copper Recovery: Characterisation. Minerals, 15(6), 20 pages.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2024 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Xu, S., Ayedzi, L. D., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2024). Flotation recovery of monazite from kaolinite using sodium oleate collector: Understanding mineral–collector interaction. Minerals Engineering, 209(108605), 10 pages.
DOI Scopus19 WoS17
2024 Ayedzi, L. D., Zanin, M., Skinner, W., & Abaka-Wood, G. B. (2024). Characterization of a Nickel Sulfide Concentrate and Its Implications on Pentlandite Beneficiation. Minerals, 14(4), 16 pages.
DOI Scopus5 WoS4
2024 Ayedzi, L. D., Zanin, M., Skinner, W., & Abaka-Wood, G. B. (2024). Minimizing entrainment recovery of ultrafine silicate minerals in pentlandite flotation using carboxymethyl cellulose. Minerals Engineering, 217, 12 pages.
DOI Scopus13 WoS12
2023 Dankwah, J. B., Asamoah, R. K., Abaka-Wood, G. B., Zanin, M., & Skinner, W. (2023). Influence of bed material density on fluidized bed flotation performance: A study on the flotation performance of quartz and alumina beds in the HydroFloat. Minerals Engineering, 203(108321), 8 pages.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2022 Forson, P., Zanin, M., Abaka-Wood, G., Skinner, W., & Asamoah, R. K. (2022). Flotation of auriferous arsenopyrite from pyrite using thionocarbamate. Minerals Engineering, 181(107524), 9 pages.
DOI Scopus20 WoS18
2022 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2022). The concentration of rare earth elements from coal fly ash. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 122(1), 21-28.
DOI Scopus21 WoS18
2022 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Johnson, B., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2022). Recovery of Rare Earth Elements Minerals in Complex Low-Grade Saprolite Ore by Froth Flotation. Minerals, 12(9), 18 pages.
DOI Scopus7 WoS5
2022 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Ehrig, K., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2022). Recovery of Rare Earth Elements Minerals from Iron-Oxide-Silicate-Rich Tailings: Research Review. Eng, 3(2), 259-275.
DOI Scopus21 WoS17
2022 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2022). The Use of Mining Tailings as Analog of Rare Earth Elements Resources: Part 1–Characterization and Preliminary Separation. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 43(6), 701-715.
DOI Scopus29 WoS26
2019 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Zanin, M., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2019). Recovery of rare earth elements minerals from iron oxide–silicate rich tailings – Part 2: Froth flotation separation. Minerals Engineering, 142(105888), 12 pages.
DOI Scopus44 WoS39
2019 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Fosu, S., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2019). Flotation recovery of rare earth oxides from hematite-quartz mixture using sodium oleate as a collector. Minerals Engineering, 141(105847), 105847-1-105847-11.
DOI Scopus29 WoS28
2019 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Zanin, M., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2019). Recovery of rare earth elements minerals from iron oxide–silicate rich tailings – Part 1: Magnetic separation. Minerals Engineering, 136, 50-61.
DOI Scopus63 WoS58
2019 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Quast, K., Zanin, M., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2019). A study of the feasibility of upgrading rare earth elements minerals from iron-oxide-silicate rich tailings using Knelson concentrator and Wilfley shaking table. Powder Technology, 344, 897-913.
DOI Scopus47 WoS45
2018 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2018). A study of selective flotation recovery of rare earth oxides from hematite and quartz using hydroxamic acid as a collector. Advanced Powder Technology, 29(8), 1886-1899.
DOI Scopus54 WoS48
2018 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Zanin, M., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2018). The upgrading of rare earth oxides from iron-oxide silicate rich tailings: Flotation performance using sodium oleate and hydroxamic acid as collectors. Advanced Powder Technology, 29(12), 3163-3172.
DOI Scopus32 WoS32
2017 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2017). A study of flotation characteristics of monazite, hematite, and quartz using anionic collectors. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 158, 55-62.
DOI Scopus89 WoS77
2017 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2017). Selective flotation of rare earth oxides from hematite and quartz mixtures using oleic acid as a collector. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 169, 60-69.
DOI Scopus33 WoS31

Year Citation
2025 Dadzie, R. A., Zanin, M., Skinner, W., & Abaka-Wood, G. B. (2025). HydroFloat™ Flotation of Fine Copper Tailings: Performance Analysis, Hydrodynamics, and Reagent Optimisation. In Proceedings of the World Congress on Mechanical Chemical and Material Engineering. Avestia Publishing.
DOI
2024 Acquah, G., Asamoah, R., Abaka-Wood, G. B., Owusu, K. B., Amankwah, R. K., & Addai-Mensah, J. (2024). Exploring Lithium Recovery Through Characterization of Pegmatite Type Ore. In Impc 2024 31st Impc International Mineral Processing Congress (pp. 1548-1557).
2024 Ayedzi, L. D., Skinner, W., Abaka-Wood, G. B., & Zanin, M. (2024). Optimization of Operating Parameters in a Reflux Flotation Cell for Ultrafine Flotation. In Impc 2024 31st Impc International Mineral Processing Congress (pp. 2806-2814).
2023 Spiridonov, P., Asamoah, R., Statsenko, L., Skinner, W., Addai Mensah, J., Mifsud, J., . . . Amankwaa Kyeremeh, B. (2023). Copper and cobalt recovery from old flotation tailings. In ALTA: Nickel-Cobalt-Copper abstracts (pp. 39-50). Australia: ALTA.
2022 Owusu, K. B., Abaka Wood, G., Skinner, W., & Asamoah, R. (2022). Acoustic measurements of different AG/SAG mill slurry densities and performance. In SME Annual Conference and Expo 2022 (pp. 233-237). US: Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.
Scopus1
2022 Abaka Wood, G. B., Acquah, G., Owusu, C. K., & Addai Mensah, J. (2022). A review of characterization techniques and processing methods for lithium extraction. In Proceedings of the 7th UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference (pp. 1-10). Ghana: UMaT.
2022 Abaka Wood, G. B., Ayedzi, L. D., Addai Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2022). Monazite and kaolinite flotation using sodium oleate as a collector. In Proceedings of the 7th UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference (pp. 1-7). Ghana: UMaT.
2019 Abaka-Wood, G. B., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2019). The use of fatty acids in the flotation of rare earth oxides from low grade tailings. In IMPC 2018 - 29th International Mineral Processing Congress (pp. 1533-1541). online: MAKO.
2018 Abaka Wood, G. B., Owusu, C., Addai Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2018). Gravity separation of rare earth oxides from hematite and quartz mixtures. In UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference (pp. 1-10). Ghana: UMaT.
2018 Abaka Wood, G. B., Fosu, S., Addai Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2018). Kinetics consideration in the flotation of monazite, hematite, and quartz using sodium oleate. In UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference (pp. 1-8). Ghana: UMaT.
2016 Abaka Wood, G. B., Addai Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2016). Physicochemical characterisation of monazite, hematite and quartz minerals for flotation. In UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference: Expanding the Frontiers of Mining Technology Vol. unpublished. Ghana: UMaT.
2016 Abaka Wood, G. B., Addai Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2016). Review of flotation and physical separation of rare earth element minerals. In UMat Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference Vol. unpublished. Ghana: UMat.
2016 Beyuo, M., Abaka Wood, G. B., Asamoah, R. K., Kabenlah, A., & Amankwah, R. K. (2016). A comparative study of sodium cyanide and JinchanTM Gold leaching reagents: a case study at Goldfields Ghana Limited. In 4th UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference (pp. 195-199). Ghana: UMaT.
2016 Abaka Wood, G. B., Addai Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2016). Magnetic separation of monazite from mixed minerals. In Chemeca 2016: Chemical engineering - regeneration, recovery and reinvention (pp. 596-604). Australia: Chemeca.
2016 Abaka Wood, G. B., Addai Mensah, J., & Skinner, W. (2016). Froth flotation of monazite from mixed minerals. In Chemeca 2016: Chemical engineering - regeneration, recovery and reinvention (pp. 605-612). Australia: Chemeca.
2014 Abaka Wood, G. B., Asamoah, R. K., & Abbey, C. E. (2014). Comparison of selected activated carbon brands' characteristic properties for gold adsorption: a case study at goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL), Tarkwa Mine. In UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference (pp. 1-5). Ghana: UMaT.

  • Advanced recovery of the battery materials and REE from ores and wastes, AISRF-Indo-Australian Scientific and Technological Cooperation Fund, 01/01/2022 - 09/11/2026

  • Advanced Flotation, Newmont USA Ltd, 17/04/2023 - 17/04/2026

  • Processing of BHP’s Carrapateena tailings for REE recovery and upgrade, BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Corporation Pty Ltd, 12/08/2025 - 12/02/2026

  • Vertically integrated battery anode material development program, CRC-P, 01/08/2023 - 29/01/2026

  • Removal of Fe-containing particles from fly ash, ARC - Linkage Project, 17/03/2025 - 19/09/2025

  • Characterisation and exploratory leaching of complex low-grade ore for rare earth elements recovery, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd, 20/02/2024 - 20/08/2024

  • Investigation of Critical Metals Recovery and Upgrade from Continuous Drossing Furnace Slag, Nyrstar Port Pirie Pty Ltd, 24/04/2023 - 31/03/2024

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Co-Supervisor Biohydrometallurgy methods for eco-efficient extraction of refractory precious and critical metals Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time David Effah
2025 Principal Supervisor Advanced recovery of graphite from complex ores Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jack Michael Walsh
2024 Co-Supervisor Optimising coarse composites flotation in Hydrofloat Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Daniel Nana Yaw Nyarko
2024 Principal Supervisor Energy and Processing Benefits of a New Dry Comminution Technology Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mark Kenneth Drechsler
2024 Principal Supervisor 296- Mineralogical and Surface Chemical Factors Influencing the Flotation Recovery of Fine Mineral Particles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Philip Adu
2023 Principal Supervisor 138-Fluidised-bed flotation of copper ore at fine particle size Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Richel Annan Annan Dadzie
2023 Co-Supervisor Impact of comminution strategy on pulp chemistry and downstream process performance Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Theophilus Amos-Judge
2023 Co-Supervisor 110020 - Advanced recovery of the battery materials and REE from ores and wastes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Gertrude Acquah
2022 Co-Supervisor Fast flotation of fine particles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Linda Dzetugbi Ayedzi
2021 Co-Supervisor The application of dry magnetic separation in the beneficiation of iron ores and tailings: value extraction and enabling the re-purposing of waste Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Zahra Rezaee

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